Shirt with elastically urged side vents



y 2, 1967 B. BERKOWITZ SHIRT WITH ELASTICALLY URGED SIDE VENTS Filed July 1:5, 1964 R m w eE/VEb/Cr esmrow/rz ATTORIVAVS.

United States Patent Ofiice Patented May 2, 1967 This invention relates to an article of clothing. More particularly, this invention relates to a mans or Womans shirt with elastically urged side vents.

It is often desirable to wear a garment which normally covers the upper part of the human torso over a skirt or pair of pants. Such garments are often called overshirts. To be worn to the best advantage it is desirable that such overshirts present a neat appearance and have a smooth and unbroken line. It is also desirable that the garment allow suflicient freedom of movement to the wearer; that is the garment must not tend to bind the wearer.

Normally, freedom of movement for the wearer of a shirt is achieved by providing vents adjacent to the bottom of the garment. However, if such vents are provided in an overshirt they break up the smooth and neat appearance of the garment.

It has been determined that an overshirt can be constructed to have both a neat appearance and still provide freedom of movement by mounting an elastic member across the vent openings.

It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide a garment having novel vent opening.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel overshirt.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a novel overshirt which has the appearance of a smooth and unbroken line yet provides freedom of movement for the wearer.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel overshirt that fits well over the hip line and gives an appearance of a slim and straight line.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the garment in accordance with the present invention with the bottom portion folded over to show a pair of side vents.

FIGURE 2 is a partial view of the garment shown in FIGURE 1, indicated by the circle 2.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to that shown in FIGURE 2 with the vent spread to an open disposition.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the vent shown in FIGURE 3 taken along the line 4-4.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the vent shown in FIGURE 3 taken along the line 55.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIG- of the buttons 23 is mounted closely adjacent the bottom of the body portion 12. The necessity for this will become more apparent below.

Even though buttons 23 have been shown in the illustrative embodiments of the present invention, it will be readily recognized by those skilled in the art that other fastener means for retaining the front closing in a closed disposition may be provided. For example, a zipper or hooks and eyes may also be used.

The front and back parts of the body portion 12 are joined together by stitched seams 24 and 26. As shown, the seams 24 and 26 stop short of the bottom of the body portion. The receiving portion of what would be the seam is left open to provide vents 28 and 30. In effect. the vents 28 and 30 are slashes in the bottom of the body portion 12 which open to provide freedom of movement for the wearer. A finishing hem 32 and 34 is formed about the open edge of the vents. Stitching 36 and 38 retains the finishing hems 32 and 34 in place.

URE 1 a garment 10 constructed to be worn as an overshirt.

The garment 10 comprises a body portion 12 which covers the torso of the wearer. Sleeve portions 14 and 16 are joined at the shoulder of the body portion and extend therefrom. A neck opening 18 surrounded by a collar 20 is provided in the top center of the body portion.

The body portion has a front closing 22 which is releasably held closed by a series of buttons and buttonholes 23. Although the garment 10 is shown with a front closing 22, it is to be understood that it is within the contemplation of the present invention that the shirt be of the pullover type which has a continuous body portion without a front closing. It should also be noted that one If left as thus far described, the overshirt 10 would provide the wearer with sufiicient freedom of movement but would not have a smooth and unbroken line. In other words, the vents 2 and 30 would allow the overshirt 10 to fit loosely about the hips of the wearer thereby breaking up the appearance sought to be achieved. In order to overcome this disadvantage, an elastic band 40 has been mounted within the hem 42 adjacent to bottom of the garment 10. The elastic band 40 is mounted within hem 42 in such a manner that it normally holds the vents 28 and 30 in a closed disposition. This is best shown in FIGURE 2. The elastic band 40 is retained in the hem 42 by continuing the stitching 36 and 38 of hems 32 and 34, respectively, down over the hem 42. The particular advantage in so retaining the elastic band 40 within the hem 42 is that it can be mounted therein without any additional sewing operations.

With the elastic band 40 extending across the vents 28 and 30 and urging the same towards a closed disposition, the overshirt 10 will fit over the hipline and present a straight, smooth and unbroken line. Since the elastic band is resilient, it will allow the wearer freedom of movement without disturbing the overall sleek, slim appearance of the overshirt 10. Moreover, no matter how the wearer moves or bends, the shirt 10 will not pull and bunch up and look unsightly because of body movements.

The elastic vent allows a wearer of larger hip measurement to also have a slim look. This is because the elastic will open for the wearers extra measurement, but still remain in shape and not pull up.

'In general, the above-mentioned advantages are achieved because the garment 10- has a continuous and unbroken lower hemline. As indicated above at least one of the buttons 23 is juxtaposed the bottom of body portion 12. Further, the elastic vents are held in a closed disposition, except when forced open by body movement or larger hip measurement. Even when so forced open, the shirt 10 still retains its continuous unbroken line.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claim, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

An article of clothing for the upper part of the body comprising a body portion, a neck opening in said body portion, said body portion being adapted to be opened and closed at its front, a pair of side seams in said body portion, said side seams being open adjacent the bottom of said body portion edges of said open side seams defining a pair of vents, elastic means extending across said vents for resiliently urging vents into a closed disposition,

the open part of said seam being finished with a hem and stitching for, holding said hem in place, said stitching being spaced from the edges of said open side seams, said stitching also attaching said elastic means to said body portion whereby said elastic means is attached to said article of clothing spaced from the edges of said open side seams.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 12/1912 Zu rn 2-237 8/ 192-0 Mullane 2-115 9/193'3 Levinson 2-102 5/1939 Liss 2-102 X 11/1965 Bell 2-93 FOREIGN PATENTS 12/1932 Australia. 1/1963 Australia.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD J. SCANLAN, JR., Examiner. 

